Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/

March 18, 1921. ‘MONTA’ Mongolian Telegraph Agency reported overseas its first news titled ‘Uprising of Mongolians’. Ivan Grigoryevich Demko, an advisor to the head of the Political Department of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Army, was appointed as the first director of MONTA and worked for some time.

March 30, 1921. The news ‘Uprising of Mongolians’ reported overseas by MONTA was published on the fourth page of issue No. 68 of ‘Pravda’ newspaper.

May 19, 1921. Article 2 of the resolution of the meeting of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Party stated that a plan on founding an office named MONTA, responsible for gathering and disseminating Mongolian telegraphic news, was considered right, thus has been submitted to the Government for approval.

July 19, 1921. At the sixth Cabinet meeting, it was resolved to found the ‘General Committee for Post and Telegraph’ under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The foundation of MONTA, or MONTSAME, opened a new chapter in the history of Mongolian media and journalism.

November 1, 1921. The 21st Cabinet meeting approved the regulations of MONTA, making it affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

October 3, 1924. MONTA established its first agreement with the Russian telegraph agency ROSTA to exchange information.

September 1, 1929. The first issue of ‘Mongolyn Medee’, the only Chinese-language newspaper in Mongolia, was published under the name ‘Ajilchny Zam’. Since October 1964, it started being operated by MONTSAME under the name ‘Mongolian News’ (Menggu Xiao Xibao).

May 1, 1942. The first issue of ‘Novosty Mongolii’ was published under the name ‘Unen-Pravda’ at the office of Unen newspaper. The newspaper soon began to be published under the name ‘Mongolskie novosty’ (Mongolian News). MONTSAME News Agency has been operating the newspaper since 1959.

1945. Under the ‘Unen’ newspaper, MONTA ran its operations as a department for translating TASS news and transmitting information about Mongolia to TASS.

1956. The magazine ‘Mongolia’ begins to be published.

July 29, 1957. At its meeting, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) issued the Resolution No. 260 to establish the ‘Mongolian Telegraph Agency’.

October 1, 1957. According to a joint resolution No.430/363 of the Council of Ministers of the Mongolian People's Republic (MPR) and the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the MPRP, the Mongolian Telegraph Agency became a special agency under the Council of Ministers of the MPR. The abbreviated name of the agency was decided to be MONTSAME.

October 6, 1957. An agreement on the exchange of news between MONTSAME News Agency and TASS News Agency was signed in Moscow, Russia.

December 31, 1957. Engineers and technicians of the Technical Department of the Mongolian Telegraph Agency were the first to hold contact with TASS Agency by teletype machine and began exchanging news and information.

March 16, 1958. A statement issued by the Government of the MPR in support of a proposal of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was officially reported to the foreign news agencies by MONTSAME News Agency on behalf of its Government for the first time.

June 2, 1958. An agreement on the exchange of news between MONTSAME News Agency of MPR and Xinhua News Agency of the People’s Republic of China was signed in Beijing, China.

December 15, 1958. An agreement on the exchange of news between MONTSAME News Agency of MPR and AGERPRES News Agency of Romania was signed in Bucharest, Romania.

December 19 1958. An agreement on the exchange of news and cooperation between MONTSAME News Agency of MPR and BTA News Agency of Bulgaria was signed in Sofia, Bulgaria.

December 31, 1958. Since its foundation, the Agency had been reporting and receiving information in Morse code. From that day MONTSAME NEWS AGENCY: 1921-2021 (Chronology) on, the Agency started using teletypewriters.

1959. A monthly Russian-language magazine ‘Sovremennaya Mongoliya’ begins to be published.

1959. A magazine ‘Mongolia’ begins to be published in English.

May 6, 1959. In accordance with Resolution No. 177 of the MPR Council of Ministers, the ‘Mongolian Telegraph Agency’ and the State Radio merged to become the State Committee for Information and Radio under the Council of Ministers.

June 5, 1959. An agreement on the exchange of news and cooperation between MONTSAME News Agency of the MPR and VNA Agency of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was signed in Ulaanbaatar.

July 17, 1959. An agreement on the exchange of news and cooperation between MONTSAME News Agency of the MPR and KCNA Agency of the DPRK was first established in Ulaanbaatar.

October 27, 1961. MONTSAME News Agency reported that the membership of Mongolian People’s Republic to the United Nations was admitted during the 16th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, and disseminated it through local newspapers.

September 23, 1970. MONTSAME News Agency of the MPR signed a Protocol on Cooperation with Prensa Latina News Agency of Cuba in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

June 25, 1978. Signed a memorandum with UNESCO on cooperation in a wide range of areas.

December 18, 1980. MONTSAME News Agency of the Mongolian People’s Republic and The Press Trust of India Ltd. (PTI News Agency) of India sign a cooperation agreement

1981. Joined the Organization of AsiaPacific News Agencies (OANA) as a member.

March 22-30, 1981. The first and only Mongolian flew to the space. This historic milestone event was reported from the location at the Baikonur Cosmodrome near Jezkazgan by a team of 7 reporters, including special correspondent S.Batsukh, photo correspondents S.Batsukh and Ts.Nina, and political commentator D.Bazarvaani from MONTSAME News Agency.

March 1981. Started operating an outdoor photo billboard near the Central Post Office building located in the heart of Ulaanbaatar city.

July 16, 1981. MONTSAME News Agency was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of its establishment under the decree No. 247 by the Presidium of the People’s Great Khural of the Mongolian People’s Republic. The award was presented in recognition of the agency’s efforts to the promotion of the peaceful policy of the MPR, and its historical practice and accomplishments of the development of a new society abroad as well as its contribution to strengthening the friendships and peace among the peoples’ of the nations.

April 20, 1982. The ‘Novosty Mongolii’ Russian-language newspaper published by MONTSAME News Agency was awarded the Order of Polar Star by the decree of the Presidium of the People’s Great Khural of the Mongolian People’s Republic.

October 11, 1983. An agreement on the exchange of news and cooperation between MONTSAME News Agency and Kyodo Tsushin News Agency was signed in Tokyo, Japan.

July 3, 1989. MONTSAME News Agency and Reuters News Agency of Great Britain signed a cooperation agreement.

October 6, 1990. MONTSAME News Agency was re-established as an independent government news agency under Resolution No. 14 of the Government of Mongolia.

November 5, 1990. MONTSAME News Agency and Yonhap News Agency signed the first agreement on news exchange in Seoul, South Korea.

1991. State Photography Agency merges with MONTSAME News Agency in connection with its reestablishment.

July 8, 1991. The first issue of ‘The Mongol Messenger’ newspaper was published in English.

September 1991. MONTSAME joins the Non-Aligned News Agencies Pool (NANAP) as a member.

May 10, 1992. The first issue of ‘Khumuun Bichig’ newspaper was published in traditional Mongolian script.

October 1994. Satellite news gathering antenna system was installed at MONTSAME to receive news data from Reuters News Agency.

January 1995. MONTSAME starts broadcasting news through computer network.

March 26, 1996. Weekly newspaper ‘World News’ for international news begins to be published.

August 1996. MONTSAME News Agency becomes a government regulatory agency under the State Great Khural’s Resolution No. 40.

August 1997. MONTSAME News Agency gained internet access and launched its own daily website to deliver local and world news in Mongolian, English and Russian languages.

January 1998. MONTSAME’s Khumuun Bichig newspaper organized the first ever nationwide calligraphy competition for traditional Mongolian script under the theme, ‘Foremost Calligraphers’. Since then, it has become a tradition for Prime Ministers of Mongolia to visit MONTSAME News Agency to award the winners of the annual competition.

September 24, 1998. MONTSAME News Agency and Xinhua News Agency start exchanging news through a satellite news broadcasting antenna system.

September 6, 2000. By Government Resolution No. 139, MONTSAME News Agency becomes a Government Regulatory Agency under the Prime Minister’s responsibilities.

November 3, 2000. MONTSAME approved its own Golden Charter to adhere to its activities.

January 1, 2001. MONTSAME News Agency deploys correspondents to 21 aimags of the country.

February 21, 2001. The agency went under technological renovation within the framework of the 352 MON 91 project by UNESCO, providing 38 high-performance computers, printing machines and other equipment.

July 18, 2001. An international conference of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) was hosted in Ulaanbaatar under the theme ‘New Millennium, New Goal: Pressing issues in the daily information exchange of news agencies in globalization’. Prime Minister N.Enkhbayar received the international delegates representing over 10 countries at the conference. August 15, 2001. The photography studio was re-established at the MONTSAME News Agency.

December 15, 2001. MONTSAME News Agency and RIA Novosty Russian News Agency signed a cooperation agreement in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

January 20, 2002. Satellite antenna delivered by RIA Novosty was installed and put into operation at the agency.

May 01, 2002. ‘ MONTSAME News’ daily magazine begins to be published.

October 15, 2003. MONTSAME News Agency publishes the first issue of ‘Mongoru Tsuushin’ newspaper in Japanese.

September 18, 2003. A new ‘Information Center’ was established at the agency to organize press conferences.

March 31, 2003. MONTSAME News Agency established a cooperation agreement with the National News Agency of Ukraine (Ukrinform) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

December 19, 2006. ‘Mongolia Today’ magazine begins to be published quarterly.

November 02, 2007. W i t h the renewal of the equipment at the agency’s Printing Factory, all newspapers and magazines begins to be published in color.

September 04, 2008. MONTSAME News Agency signed a Protocol on Cooperation with the Azerbaijan State News Agency Azertac, and Kazinform news agency of Kazakhstan in Baku, Azerbaijan.

September 2008. ‘MONTSAME News’ daily newspaper begins to be published.

September 16, 2008. With the renewal of the equipment at the agency’s Photography Laboratory, the department expands its staff members.

December 22, 2008. The Confederation of Mongolian Journalists selected MONTSAME News Agency as a press and media organization that effectively promoted Mongolia to the world.

November 24-27, 2010. At the General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) that took place in Istanbul, Turkey, MONTSAME News Agency was elected as an Executive Board member for the first time.

June 27-30, 2011. MONTSAME News Agency successfully hosted the OANA Executive Board Meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

2014. Social media pages were updated in Mongolian, English, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese.

2015. MONTSAME News Agency established a cooperation agreement with the Central News Agency of Taiwan (CNA) to exchange information.

-MONTSAME News Agency established a cooperation agreement with NIKKEI Group of Japan. The agency provides daily news about Mongolia in English.

2016. The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) information center was established at MONTSAME News Agency’s Information Center in preparation for the ASEM Summit that took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

March 2016. MONTSAME News Agency established a cooperation agreement with the Confederation of Mongolian Journalists. With the establishment of the agreement, three journalists began to be annually awarded with MONTSAME News Agency’s ‘Top News Journalist Award’ along with the ‘Golden Rules Owner’ medal.

November 2016. At the OANA General Assembly that took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, MONTSAME News Agency was elected as a member of the organization’s technical committee.

2017. MONTSAME News Agency established a cooperation agreement with the Russian news agency Russia Today.

-MONTSAME News Agency renewed the cooperation agreements with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Cuban state news agency Prensa Latina.

April 2018. In the framework of the official visit by Prime Minister of Mongolia U.Khurelsukh to the People’s Republic of China, MONTSAME News Agency renewed its cooperation agreement with Xinhua News Agency in Beijing, China.

September 2019. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Khalkhiin Gol Battles, MONTSAME News Agency and ‘Sputnik’ radio broadcaster of the Russian news agency Rossiya Segodnya co-organized a photography exhibition themed ‘Two Nations–One Victory’.

November 2019. At the OANA General Assembly that took place in Seoul, South Korea, MONTSAME News Agency was re-elected as an Executive Board member and gained the right to host the OANA Executive Board Meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

December 2019. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and PRC, MONTSAME News Agency and Xinhua News Agency coorganized a photography exhibition themed ‘Footprints of History’ in Ulaanbaatar city and published an album of highlight photos.

2020. With financing from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the technology and equipment of MONTA telestudio was upgraded.

January 2021. MONTSAME News Agency established an agreement with ‘China Daily’, an Englishlanguage news organization of the PRC State Council Information Office, to exchange information.

March 2021. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Mongolia’s first space flight, MONTSAME News Agency organized a photography exhibition themed ‘MONTSAME News Agency’s reportage on the joint Mongolia-Soviet space flight’ at the Russian Center for Science and Culture.

June 2021. MONTSAME News Agency published the book, ‘The Voice of Mongolia’, consisting of the works of about 150 journalists, translators, and artists of the agency throughout the years as the 22nd volume of the ‘Top Articles of Mongolia’ series.

February-June, 2021. Senior journalists of MONTSAME News Agency G.Baatarchuluun and Ch.Erdene were awarded with the Honored Cultural Figure title and medal per the decree of the President of Mongolia.

June-July 2021. MONTSAME News Agency and the National Museum of Mongolia co-organized an exhibition, ‘Mongolia, MONTSAME-100’, consisting of photography and artifacts.

-MONTSAME News Agency published the book ‘MONTSAME Today: 108 Tones’.

July 2021. MONTSAME News Agency marks its 100th anniversaryJuly 2021. MONTSAME News Agency marks its 100th anniversary.